More charges against man accused in Pawcatuck burglaries

Stonington — A Pawcatuck man already charged in connection with a January burglary spree was charged today in connection with one of the burglaries in which he allegedly entered a Timber Ridge Drive home on Jan. 26 and awakened the sleeping homeowner.

Leonard K. Fayerweather, 24, of 98 West Broad St., Apt. 18, was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree larceny. He is being held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Friday in New London Superior Court today if bad weather does not close the court.

Fayerweather had already been charged with three counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree larceny and one count of second-degree criminal mischief in connection with three burglaries on Courtland Street, Lathrop Street and Palmer Street that were reported Jan. 24.

Televisions, jewelry, electronics and other items were taken. After his arrest on Feb. 1 and subsequent arraignment, Fayerweather was released on a $15,000 bond. Police are still investigating the burglaries and expect to make another arrest.

In the case of the Timber Ridge break-in, the homeowner said he was awakened about 12:30 a.m., by someone opening his bedroom door and shining a light inside. The burglar fled when the man began yelling at him.

Police noticed the tire tracks in fresh snow were consistent with a narrow spare tire commonly known as a "doughnut." Police also found two sets of footprints leading to an unlocked window. One had a double circular pattern and the other had an impression of Michael Jordan dunking a basketball. Stolen were an iPad, cellphone, $220, an iPod and a card reader.

Forty minutes later, police noticed that a gold Volvo sedan with a "doughnut" in the front left tire location was parked in front of the Elm Tree Inn at 98 W. Broad St., where Fayerweather lived.

Fayerweather let police search his car and apartment and denied any involvement in the burglary. Blue rubber gloves were found in the car, and inside the apartment police found pairs of Nike Airmaxx and Nike Air Force size 13 basketball sneakers that were consistent with impressions found at the four burglary locations and around the Volvo. They also found some of the items they say were taken in the burglaries.

On Jan. 30, police contacted the owner of a North Stonington pawn shop who said that on the afternoon of Jan. 24 Fayerweather sold him jewelry and silverware. Photographs taken from a surveillance video showed Fayerweather and another man involved in the transaction. The shop owner provided police with receipts and photographs of the items, which the burglary victims identified as being taken from their homes.